Gift ideas for a 1 Year Old
That first birthday feels like a huge milestone. Given that you want the day to be special, it's understandable that you want to ensure you get the perfect gift for your little one. But how do you narrow down what to pick? Don't worry - we've got you covered. Our guide provides many great gift ideas for a 1 year old, so you don't have to look any further to find a fun gift they will love.
What do 1 Year olds need?
1 year olds need safe and stimulating gifts that let them discover the world and develop their abilities on their own terms. They are still learning about the world and developing basic skills that will become pivotal as they grow up. Their needs revolve around testing boundaries to understand what they can and can't do. The best gifts for a 1 year old are ones that help them answer questions about their senses, including sight, touch and taste. You're not so much buying a toy or a gift - you're buying them an experience.
What are the best birthday gift ideas for a 1 year old?
The best 1st birthday gifts are ones they’ll grow into, not out of. From the age of one, there are many skills they still need to develop, such as fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. As such, you want an engaging, stimulating toy that is not overwhelming.
Any present that makes them move or interact using their hands or feet, or encourages some form of exploration, is a great starting point. While personalised gifts can be an option, it's more helpful to think of the potential developmental benefit of each potential toy. Their first birthday can be an excellent time to provide gifts to improve their development as they grow older.
Gift ideas for a 1 year old
We've divided our gift ideas for a 1 year old into fantastic learning and development toy categories. Since they're too young to have defined interests yet, you want to ensure that your gift stands out.
Activity and sensory gifts
Activity and sensory toys are essential for a 1 year old because of their stage of development. Physically and mentally, they are developing rapidly, so they need discovery toys to teach them about texture, sound, and colour. These toys can help build their fine motor skills and can, crucially, teach them about cause and effect. These toys can also help enhance their hand-eye coordination, develop their problem-solving abilities, and help them build their language skills. Think of activity tables or play tables full of objects for them to spin, slide, and press.
Walker and ride-on gifts
Walkers and ride-ons are great options because toddlers always want to be on the move! Baby walkers and ride-ons make exploring easier and provide a confidence boost that can lead to them taking their first steps. They can become frustrated when they don't have an outlet, and these types of toys are not only an excellent gateway for them to learn how to move and walk, but can also expend all their extra energy. Walkers can often have enhanced functionality with a few buttons or activities at the front of them to keep kids occupied and entertained during meals and downtime.
Playsets with figures and vehicles gifts
You may think this is too early for playsets with figures and vehicles, but imaginative play can start earlier than you might think. Easy-to-handle pieces and chunky, movable figures are ideal for developing their fine motor skills. They'll learn how to grasp and manipulate objects, and soon enough, you'll see the beginnings of role play begin to take effect. Children learn about their environment by playing with imaginative and role-play-based toys, which can often start with these types of playsets.
Soft play gift ideas
Soft play toys are a parent's best friend. Squishy and soft plushes are simple and easy for toddlers to interact with and can lead to hours of imaginative play and lots of cuddles! These toys can help comfort and send them to sleep, making them a perfect accompaniment for bedtime.
Bath toy gift ideas
Bath time can be ideal for experimenting with different toys in a unique environment. Good bath toys can be the difference between a fun play time in the bath and a challenging one. Stickers, shower sets, bath bombs and other games you can play in the bath are just some ways to make bath time an excellent avenue for sensory play.
Electronic learning toy gift ideas
It's understandable to think of screen time when thinking of electronic toys. However, electronic learning toys can teach 1 year olds valuable lessons through sounds, colours and interaction. They can introduce basic concepts (like musical noises or animal sounds) and teach them about cause and effect due to how the toys respond to interaction.
Musical instruments can be toys children grow into and enjoy playing with, and number blocks and smart tablets can help them learn about important subjects like letters and numbers. If you're looking to introduce early STEM concepts, think of electronic toys that offer the most basic form of this: action and reaction.
Playmats and gym gift ideas
Playmats and gyms can create another fun environment for them to interact with. They are brilliant gift ideas for a 1 year old, partly because they are practical for the whole family -they can distract the baby when a diaper needs to be changed or keep them perpetually entertained with their playful noises and colourful characters. Due to their size and shape, they can contribute to their need for sensory play while offering them safe and secure areas to which they will want to return.
Visit our baby and pre-school educational toys section to see more of our toy range for 1 year olds and toddlers.
